Cup-container.



L. W. LUELLEN.

CUP CONTAINER.

APPLICATION FILED Dac. 2. 191|.

Patentd Feb. 19, 1918.

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. LaWnENcE W. LUELLEN, 0E BooN'roN, NEW JERSEY, .assIGNoE 'ro INDIVIDUAL DRINKING CUP COMPANY, or NEW YoEK, N. Y.; A coEPoItA'rIoN 0E MAINE.

CUP-CONTAINER.

This invention relates to cup holders and.

has for its object to provide an improved device `for supplying individual drinking cups. The improvement embodies a container or receptacle for storing a stack of nested cups and presenting these, one at `a time, in position for ready removal. The

' improvementalso includes an organization which will enable the cup which is at the .delivery position to act as a closurey for the delivery opening. The cup-retaining devices will preferably be so situated' that the portions of the cup intended for receiving the contents and for the engagement' of the mouth of the user will be shielded. v

In the drawings accompanying and form ing a part of this specification one practieable form of the invention is illustrated,

wherein- Figure 1 represents, partly in elevation and partly in longitudinal section the improved cup holder containing a stack of nested cups. Y

Fig. 2 is an'enlarged cross-sectional view. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of Fig.

2.; and

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of two cups nested together.l

This invention is intended to store and hold ready for removal, one by one, a stack of nested cups. These cups will be made of some suitable material, preferably waterproofed paper.

,The cups may be waterproofed by paraifin, which will add a .certain amount of stiffness to the cup as well as' giving it a, cleanly and pleasing appearance. I- In Fig. 4 two of the cups are shown nested. It will be noted that the body portion 5, of the. cup is made taperingjand that the upper .rim or drinking edge is provided with an outwardlydisposed flange 6. The

bottom 7, of the .cup is located at an appreciable distance upwardly from the bottom-edge 8, of the side portion. This constitutes a flange so that when the cups are.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led leceniber 2, 1911. Serial No. 663,589.

Patented Een. is, isis.-

nested this flange will actas a spacing pro- ]ection for engaging the bottom 7, of the cup beneath it and spacing the side walls Y of the cups'apart to prevent adherence one with the other, and also for spacing the flanges apart so that these will engage individually the supporting devices later to be described. It will thus be seen that onecup will rest upon the cup beneath it and that the entire stack of cups in the nest will be uniformly spaced.

A 'container or receptacle 10, will be provided for the stack of nested cups. In the present illustration this container is a glass tube forthe purpose of displaying the cups.l

The container is shown supported in a ringshaped framework 11, which is somewhat in the nature of a bracket carried by a standard 12, which will be secured on some suitable support. The standard also carries a bracket 13, -for embracing the con.

tainer above the support 11, for affording additional security. A suitable frame 14, is

provided l,at the top of the container to Lwhich a lid 15, is hinged, such lid being provided with a locking catch 16. This will prevent removal of the cups from the top and will also prevent dust accumulating upon or in the; upper cup of the stack.

In carrying out this invention it is intended that the cup will be yieldably supported inthe container. The yieldability may be either in the cup itself or in the device which .engages it, or both the cup and the engaging rdevice may be yieldable, so

that upon force being exerted to remove the cup, yieldability of the support will be present and the cup will be removed without damage.

A plurality of elastically-yieldable abutments are illustrated for supporting the stackbf nested cups. The abutment will engage the upper end or ends of one `or more of the cups at the lower end of the stack and hold the lower cup in position for delivery and also sustain the stack of cups. The

abutment is shown as a movable shoulder and in the present illustration comprises a strip of spring metal bentinto form and carried by a suitable support, in the present illustration, a ring 11. Three of these abutments are illustrated. The form of each comprises a portion 17, secured to the ring 11, a portion 18, for supporting the lower edge 'of the container 10, a resilient arm 19,

and an abutment or supporting portion 20 for engaging the cup. The cups will be supporte directly by or upon the springpressed shoulders. In the illustration these yielding seats engage the under-side of the flange of the lowermost cup.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the lowermost cup is supported in such position that it may be readily taken hold of, and, by a downward movement, drawn through the supporting devices, either the cup or the supporting devices yielding, according to whichever of these isthe weaker. It will also be seen that the lowest cup constitutes a closure for the delivery orice of the container.

Although but one form of my invention has been illustrated and described, it will be apparent that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

l. A sanitary cup holder, comprising .an

`upright tubular cup receptacle having an open lower discharge end and one or more spring pressed cup supporting shoulders adapted to wholly support a stack of nestable cups therein in such manner that the lowermost cup is held in a partially exposed position capable of being removed from its lplurality of nestable cups therein, in such manner that the lowermost cup protrudes below the receptacle in convenient position to be detached from its support.

4. A sanitary cup holder, comprising a cup receptacle having an open lower dis f charge end, and adapted to receive a plurality of flanged nestable cups, and one `or more spring pressed members projecting into the receptacle near its lower end and adapted to engage with the `under side of the flange of the lowermost cup, whereby all of the cups may thereby be supported, with the lowermost one protruding so as to be in position for convenient removal.

5. A sanitary cup holder, comprising a tubular cup receptacle, and one or more spring pressed members projecting into the receptacle, and .adapted to removably support a plurality of nested cups, that have projections below their upper edges that are adapted to rest upon the cup next below, the lowermost cup being adapted to be removably supported directly upon the spring pressed members.

`6. A sanitary cup holder, comprising a tubular open ended cup receptacle, .a cover hinged to the upper end, a plurality of spring arms secured to the wall of the receptacle and having extension portions projecting into the receptacle, and adapted to removably support a plurality of nested cups in said receptacle, the lowermost one of which is directly carried by said extension portions in a partly exposed position whereby it may be conveniently detached from its support.

7. A cup holder comprising a receptacle having an open lower end. a plurality of yieldable abutments projectjing into the interior of the receptacle and forming yielding seats for removably supporting` a stack of nested cups in such manner that the lowermost cup protrudes below the receptacle in convenient position to be detached from its support .and extend within the receptacle a sufiicient distance to constitute a closure therefor.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the' presence of two subscribing.

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